Police and the council have worked to clean up this street in Swansea’s Penlan area and most people we spoke to now feel safer, but problems remain
This estate in Swansea has long been plagued with issues(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
The stillness and the silence were the first things that struck me. There were no voices, no mums pushing prams, no groups lingering on street corners, no obvious signs of happy community life or tension, not even a dog chasing after a ball, just the hum of traffic in the distance. Given its issues, the calm felt almost eerie.
I was on the Heol Emrys estate in Swansea’s Penlan. This small corner of Swansea has had a reputation many of the people living there never asked for.
Anti-social behaviour has been a big factor in daily life here, bringing with it regular police patrols, surveillance cameras and a stigma that will always prove harder to remove than the problems themselves. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here
Police highlighted the issues at the start of the year, saying the area had suffered from crime and disorder and it had decided to act.
The sign telling you that you’ve arrived at Heol Emrys, Penlan(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Operation Alfreton, a coordinated effort led by South Wales Police alongside Swansea Council and a wide network of partner agencies, saw graffiti scrubbed from walls, abandoned caravans removed, illegal locks restricting access to public car parks taken down, and a grassed area littered with more than 100 dog waste bags finally cleared.
One resident, who has lived in the area for six years, said daily life had improved as a result – but not without lingering concerns.
“Life is fine, but I don’t like to go out at night,” they said. “There’s still people shouting and having a go at each other. We get police round here every time that happens – pretty much every day – mostly on the back road.”
It is that mix of reassurance and unease that now defines Penlan for many who live there.
More recently, residents said the mood had shifted. There is a growing sense of calm and a feeling that the community is finally turning a corner, reclaiming a street that had long been defined by its challenges.
Those interventions have helped steady the area; something that became clearer as I walked further into the estate.
Yet, reminders of the estate’s troubles are still hard to miss. Blocks of flats deeper into the estate have windows boarded up with chipboard, some patched with cardboard… quiet markers of neglect and possible unrest.
Some homes had boarded up windows(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Residents say, however, that these signs no longer reflect how the area feels to live in today.
One local man, who asked not to be named, told me Heol Emrys had come a long way in recent months. Standing in the doorway of his home, with his mother beside him, he described a street that felt markedly different from just a few years ago.
“I haven’t seen any problems recently,” he said. “It was particularly bad around two years ago – it was chaos. There was vandalism and a lot of anti-social behaviour. It was difficult.”
He said the increased police presence had played a key role in improving daily life.
Residents say the area has “calmed” in recent months(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
“A lot of police have come around, which has really helped,” he added. “It’s made us feel safer living here. We’re much happier now that things have calmed down.”
Similar sentiments were shared by Carol, who has lived in Penlan for the past ten years. She said she now felt “a lot safer” than she once did.
“The police patrols really help,” she said. “We do sometimes get a car or bike rally around here in the evenings, which can be noisy, but overall it has got better. I feel a lot safer.”
For Carol, though, one issue continues to undermine progress.
“The rubbish looks awful – as you can see,” she said, gesturing up the road. “We have so much green space here, and it just lets the place down.
“It would be lovely to come home and for it to be clean. I can’t speak for other people – you don’t know what people are going through mentally – but that doesn’t mean everyone else has to be miserable.
“The appearance does not reflect what this place is like.”
Plastic bags were spotted dotted round the area(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
She’s right. Litter was everywhere and impossible to ignore. Split black bags spilled household waste across green spaces, while piles of uncollected rubbish sat outside homes, growing by the day. The sight was jarring, blighting the area and reinforcing some long-held perceptions of this part of Swansea.
The issue is one that also resonates with resident Marc Atkins, who moved to Penlan in October, 2024, from Tamworth in Birmingham. He said his experience of the area so far had been largely positive.
Marc Atkins moved to the area over a year ago(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
“We’ve heard the occasional argument, some shouting, but we really keep to ourselves,” he said. “We haven’t really seen problems beyond that. I’m happy living here.”
For Marc also, however, litter remained the area’s most pressing concern – particularly one alleyway linking the estate to the main road.
“That’s where the changes really need to happen,” he said. “There’s loads of rubbish down there and no-one is touching it – not even the council. There are rats down there. It’s disgusting.”
A dead rat was found just steps away from the alley(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Curious to see the scale of the problem for myself, I made my way down the alley he highlighted. I found myself tiptoeing through the mess.
The pile of rubbish was overwhelming in one area of the estate(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
The rubbish was eyewatering. Christmas gift bags stuffed to the brim lay among discarded takeaway cups, plastic wrapping, burst balloons and a countless number of empty canisters of laughing gas. Not far away, a dead rat lay out in the open.
There was litter all around the walkway(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
The scene was grim and it only reinforced residents’ calls for a deep clean, as well as the fear that without tackling issues like this, this part of Penlan’s appearance will continue to undermine the progress many say has already been made.
There was lots of empty cannisters of laughing gas around the place(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
In light of my visit, Andrea Williams, Swansea Council’s deputy leader and a cabinet member said: “The majority of residents of Penlan and the Tudno and Emrys estates are hard-working and proud of where they live.
“They want to live in a safe, welcoming place with comfortable homes, quality community facilities like the library and leisure centre and thriving clubs and schools.
“It’s what we want as well and the council is continuing to play its part supporting families and the community for the future.
“We’ve been working with local councillors, residents, the police and other groups and organisations to continue our investment in the area, promoting safety and wellbeing.
“A lot of work has been done and there’s lots more to do.
“So far, by working with partners we’ve arranged for all graffiti to be removed. We have also removed abandoned caravans and illegal locks on gates to public car park areas.
“A huge quantity of dog waste bags has been removed, new doors fitted to the block for extra security along with a voice entry system.”
The problem of litter hangs heavy over residents(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
She added: “Fire safety metal screens have been installed in all low-rise blocks, there are new signs, and additional litter bins on the estate.
“We’ve carried out an audit of the lights, there has been litter picking of the area three times a week and various rubbish amnesty events.
“The CCTV cameras are working and monitored to full capacity, we have a daily presence on the estate and we’ve Increased landlord presence with the use of a bedsit
“As part of a future regeneration of the area, our housing department is currently working on a kitchen and bathroom scheme and have completed nearly 50% to date.”
Swansea Council confirmed it was looking to resolve the litter issue(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
She said: “A further 45% of bathrooms are currently programmed for the next year with the outstanding kitchens to follow when alterations to external areas are completed.
“Regarding the structure and external area, we are currently at the design stage of a huge refurbishment programme and will look to carry out phase one in the next financial year. Tudno Place will feature in further phases.
“Despite our best efforts we recognise that rubbish and fly-tipping continues to be an ongoing issue in the area. Our housing officers are working closely with colleagues in waste to come up with a solution to address this issue.”
The Council further said it wanted the area to become a safe and thriving place to live(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Inspector Nia Lambley, of South Wales Police, further added: “Due to the issues previously experienced by residents on Heol Emrys in Penlan, the area was identified as requiring a plan to decrease the level of crime and disorder in the area.
“Operation Alfreton was implemented to improve the quality of life for residents of the estate; improving the standards of living, the environment and the overall experience of residents.
“Through Health and Safety and Fire regulations, we are able to ensure the safety of the residents on the estate.
“Through conducting in-person events on the estate in recent months, we have been able to form relationships with the residents, increasing community cohesion and increasing trust and confidence in the police and the local authority.
“The events also help with developing a mutual understanding of the financial and resourcing limitations we face as public services.”